Resources

Local Preservation: Preservation is Local

Thanks to a Preserve America grant, the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission launched a new initiative in 2009 entitled Preservation is Local (PIL). The program is designed to stimulate Rhode Island communities in addressing the state of historic preservation at the local level, and all local governments are eligible to participate.

In March and April 2009, RIHPHC held three Preservation Is Local Summits: for Providence County, Bristol/Newport counties, and Kent/Washington counties. A fourth mini-summit was held in Warwick. At the summits, we learned about current preservation needs and recent and potential preservation projects.

RIHPHC released the applications for Preservation is Local Grants in May 2009. Applications were due in July, and awards were announced in September. Consolidating the PIL and CLG grants rounds made $200,000 available for projects relating to survey and registration of historic resources; planning and land use activities; public education/heritage tourism activities; historic property management activities; and historic district zoning activities. Applications were accepted for projects from Preserve America communities, CLG communities, or communities that committed to submit an application for Preserve America Community status by October 31, 2010. In short, projects from every community in the state were eligible to apply.

RIHPHC received a total of 57 grant applications from 32 of Rhode Island’s 39 municipalities, as well as the Narragansett Indian Tribe. The combined requests totaled $712,922. Awards were made to assist the following projects: